A ransom for all

1 Timothy 2:6

Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

The Bible gives no place for shadowy uncertainty or doubt when it comes to the means and way of salvation. Christ is the one Mediator between God and men! The man Christ Jesus is our substitute, our expiator, our propitiation. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world! He will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth! You see, this all has been done for all mankind. He tasted death for every man. And here, the Word of God gives it to us in full force. He gave Himself a ransom for all. No life was taken from Him, but He laid it down of Himself! He willingly and lovingly gave! Greater love hath no man than this! He gave Himself!

A ransom for all! He is our ransom! This means that we were once in the captivity of sin, and He rescued us from its power. This means that a payment is demanded, a punishment is required. All this Christ took for us. Upon Himself was laid all the sins of the world. He bare our sins in His own body on the tree. He became sin for us, He who knew no sin. The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all! You see, He became our substitute by taking our place and receiving the punishment that we justly deserve, but He unjustly received. The just died for the unjust, to bring us to God! What a glorious Savior we have! He gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time!

Yes, He gave Himself for us, but one day, when He shall be testified openly before all, He will then be given the authority and honor and power that He so rightfully deserves. Every person will bow before Him in utter humility and confession. They will say, “Jesus Christ is Lord.” He will be testified to the whole world. But may I venture on a question? Have you been ransomed by the death of Christ? If so, who is in your sphere of influence that you can tell? Some say, “I know no one.” It matters not! The message must be given to friend and stranger alike! It must be propagated to a world that knows neither God nor us. Let us not excuse ourselves, but be obedient to Christ’s command to go into all the world. Let us not hide behind introverted feelings and shy dispositions. But let us show forth a loving Christ to a world that is without His love. For He gave Himself a ransom for all!

“Dear Lord, how could we ever praise you enough for giving your life a ransom for all! We have been ransomed, redeemed, restored by your wondrous love and forgiveness. May we now rejoice uninterrupted and without ceasing for the great deliverance we have received! And we ask that you would burden our hearts more deeply for those that need the message of redemption and the love of Christ. You died for them no less than you have died for us! You desire that they would be ransomed from the captivity of sin. Use us to send forth the message of your love and grace. We pray and ask these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.”